Wrench.



Patented Iuly l, |902.

for f clvwazn 351377221 A. BIVINS.

WRENCH.

(Application led Apr. 22, 1902.)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM BIVINS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,377, dated July 1, 1909.

Application filed April 22, 1902, Serial No. 104,150. (No model) T0 CLZZ- whom, 2315 may concern.-

Beit known that I, ABRAHAM BIviNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, county of Arapahoe, and State of Colorado, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in wrenches, and has for its object to provide a wrench so constructed that the movable jaw can be moved downward by a simple downward pressure of the same to remove it quickly from the nut, but when the pressure is released the lower jaw will spring back to the same position and beheld in that position until it is desired to again lower the same, or by the insertion of a single screw the wrench can be used the saine as an ordinary monkey-wrench.

Vith these ends in view this invention conssts in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionY appertains may understand howto make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the handle of the wrench, all other parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a section o n the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a s'ection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

A represents the handle of the wrench, which is of the same general outline as an ordinary wrench-handle; but this handle is made hollow. l

B represents the fixed jaw of the wrench, which is formed upon the upper end of the shank C, which extends downward into the handle and is secured to the handle by means of the rivet D', which passes through the handle and also through the shank.

D is the movable jaw, which surrounds the shank C at the rear,and this movable jaw D has formed with it a screw-threaded extension E, extending downward from it and adapted to slide within a V-shaped groove formed in the forward edge of theshank C, as shown in Fig. 3.

F represents two slide-bars, one arranged upon each side of the shank C, and these slide-bars extend downward into the handle of the wrench, and each is slotted, as indicated at G, through which slot passes the rivet D', which fastens and pivots the shank C to the handle. y

H is a gnarled or milled interiorly-threaded nut which surrounds the shank C and the slide-bars F and also the screw-threaded extension E, upon Vwhich the nut is threaded. The slide-bars Fare anged at I above and below the nut, so ,that the nut really becomes a part thereof, but' can be rotated. J represents two crossl'pieces secured to the handle upon theinside and extending across the same near the lower end. The lower end of the shank C extends downward between these cross-pieces and terminates within a very short distance of the closed lower end of the handle. The shank C by being fastened to the handle at only one point is in reality pivoted upon the rivet D', and the handle is so formed that this shank and everything carried by it will be allowed a limited amount of rocking movement upon the pivot.

K is a spring interposed between one wall of the handleand the front face of the shank at a point below the pivot. Thus this spring will always hold the shank in its straight or normal position, and when in this position the lower end of the slide-bars F will lie within a step L, formed in each of the crosspieces J. y ,i

When the shank is in its straight or normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, by turning the nut H the movable jaw D can be moved toward and away from the fixed jaw B, the same as an ordinary monkey-wrench, the nut being held stationary, because of the fact that it is held between the flanges I of the slide-bars F, and said slide-bars are prevented from upward movement by the lower end of the slot G coming in contact with the rivet D',

and said bars are prevented'from downward movement by reason of their lower ends abutting against the step Lof the cross-pieces J, but when it isv desired towremove the wrench from the nut to securea new hold upon the nut or for using the wrench upon another nut of the same size it is desirable to quickly loosen the jaws without revolving IOO the nut H and when applied to the nut again to have the movable jaw resume its original position. This I accomplish by pressing the upper end of the wrench rearward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and this movement will bring the lower end of the slide-bars F forward vof the step, which will allow the nut H, movablejaw G, and slide F to be pushed downward, because of the fact that the lower end of theslide-bars will then be over the cutaway portion M of the cross-pieces J. This downward movement of the movable jaw will release the wrench from the nut; but after the wrench has been applied to new faces upon the nut or upon a new nut ofthe same size by releasing the pressure upon the nut Il the spring N, which is interposed between the lower angesI of the slide-bars and the upper end of the handle, will return the parts to their original position, and the spring K will then act to press the shank C back into its straight or normal position, which will bring the lower end of the slide-bars again within the steps L of the cross-pieces J.

This wrench can be used to great advantage in places where a full turn cannot be made with the wrench and the wrench has to be released a number of times before the nut is tightened, or it can be used to great advanlagefupon vehicles in taking olf and putting on the wheels when the nuts are all of the same size.

Vhen it is desired to convert the wrench into an ordinary monkey-wrench, so that the movable jaw D cannot be raised and lowered without revolving the nutILIprovide through the lower end of the handle A a screw O, the inner end of which is inserted in a small nut P, which will lie in front of the lower end of the shank C, and said screw when pushed in prevents any rocking movement ot' the shank upon its pivot.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful isl. In a wrench, a hollow handle, a lixed jaw, a shank secured to said fixed jaw and pivoted at a point between its two ends to the upper end of the handle, a spring interposed between the handle and the front face of the shank, a movable jaw slidably mounted upon the shank, a screw-threaded extension extending downward from the movable jaw, a nut threaded upon said screw-threaded extension, means whereby said nut and movable jaw can be slid downward upon the shank when said shank is rocked upon its pivot, and a spring for returning said nut and movable jaw to their original position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ends to the lower end of the handle, a movable jaw slidably mounted upon said shank, a Screw-threaded extension extending downward from said jaw, two slide-bars, one arranged upon each side of the shank and provided with slots through which the pivot of the shank extends, a nut surrounding the upper end of the slide-bars, shank, and threaded upon the screw-threaded extension of the movable jaw, flanges formed upon the slidebars above and below the nut, a spring interposed between the lower flanges and the upper end of the handle, means for allowing the nut, slide-bars and movable jaw to be pressed away from the xed jaw when the shank is rocked upon its pivot, and a spring for returning the shank to its normal position, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

3. In a wrench of the character described, a hollow handle, a fixed jaw, a shank secured to the fixed jaw and pivoted at a point between its ends to the upper end of the handle into which the shank extends, a movable jaw slidably mounted upon the shank, a screwthreaded extension extending downward from the movable jaw, two slide-bars, one arranged upon each side of the shank and extending into the handle, said slide-bars provided with slots through which passes the pvot secu ring the shank to the handle, an interiorly-threaded nut surrounding the upper end of t-he slide-bars also surrounding the shank and threaded upon the screw-threaded extension of the movable jaw, fianges upon each of the slide-bars arranged above and below the nut, a springinterposed between the lower flanges and the upper end of the handle, a spring inter-posed between one of the walls of the handle and the forward edge of the shank below the pivotal point of said shank, two crosspieces secured upon the interior of the handle and extending across the same, one upon each side of the shank, a step formed in each cross-piece in which the lower end of the slidebars rest when the parts are in their normal position, a cut-away portion formed in each cross-piece for the reception of the slide-bars when the shank is rocked and the said slidebars are pressed downward, and means for locking the shank in its straight or normal position, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afxed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABRAHAM BIVINS.

TWitnesses:

W. C. SELTZER, lV. U. HEY.

IOO

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